Modular frame structure and connector

ABSTRACT

A modular frame structure and connector is provided in which the connector contains a plurality of pairs of diametrically opposed openings which are each female receptacles for receiving and holding a corresponding male plug. A first pair of these openings defines an axis of the connector. A first plurality of the pairs of openings are positioned around the center of the connector with the axes of these openings being coplanar. The central plane so defined is normal to the axis of the connector and substantially divides the connector into equal halves. A second plurality of pairs of openings is provided one end of which lies between the above-mentioned central plane and one of the axial pair of openings of the device. The other end of this plurality of openings lies between the central plane and the other axial opening. A plug is provided which has two ends, one of which is a male plug adapted to mate with the female openings in the connector. The other end of the plug is adapted to connect to the frame members.

United States Patent [7 21 Inventor Julie Finger 156 South GardnerStreet, Los Angeles, Calif. 90036 [21] Appl. No. 25,218 [22] Filed Apr.2, 1970 [45] Patented Jan. 4, 1972 [54] MODULAR FRAME STRUCTURE ANDCONNECTOR 6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl ..287/ 189.36, 52/665 [51] Int. Cl Fl6b 2/16 [50] Field ofSearch 46/29; 287/54 A, 54 C, 189.36 R, 53.5, 20.92 C, 189.36 F; 52/665,648

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,709,318 5/1955 Benjamin46/29 X 3,073,633 1/1963 Jeffs 287/54 A 2,044,588 6/1936 Moore ....287/l89.36 R X 2,954,250 9/1960 Wing... 46/29 X FOREIGN PATENTS 477,946 191951 Canada v 46/29 498,484 12/1954 Italy 46/29 Primary Examiner-DavidJ. Williamowsky Assistant ExaminerWayne L. Shedd Att0meyRonald W. ReaginABSTRACT: A modular frame structure and connector is provided in whichthe connector contains a plurality of pairs of diametrically opposedopenings which are each female receptacles for receiving and holding acorresponding male plug. A first pair of these openings defines an axisof the connector. A first plurality of the pairs of openings arepositioned around the center of the connector with the axes of theseopenings being coplanar. The central plane so defined is normal to theaxis of the connector and substantially divides the connector into equalhalves. A second plurality of pairs of openings is provided one end ofwhich lies between the abovementioned central plane and one of the axialpair of openings of the device. The other end of this plurality ofopenings lies between the central plane and the other axial opening. Aplug is provided which has two ends, one of which is a male plug adaptedto mate with the female openings in the connector. The other end of theplug is adapted to connect to the frame members.

Pmm'm 4m 316321147 SHEETI or 2 Fig.2

INVENTOR.

4h JUL IE F/NGEI? BY L4 MW? ATTORNEY 1 MODULAR FRAME STRUCTURE ANDCONNECTOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates tomodular connectors and more particularly to a novel connector and systemfor constructing modular frame structures.

At shows, fairs and exhibits, it is customary for manufacturers, salespeople or other people promoting a particular point of view to set upbooths in which their goods are exhibited or their material is madeavailable to the public or to people attending the function. Frequently,large numbers of exhibitors will be establishing many such booths in alarge hall or even in a large outdoor field.

In its simplest form such a booth can be assembled by nailing together aframework of wood of suitable dimensions and draping cloth or othermaterial over the framework to provide the walls. In a similar manner,shelves and platforms can be provided for displaying goods or forholding promotional materials. While the simplicity of this type ofstructure may be appealing, there are several serious drawbacks to itsuse. First, such booths are not as inexpensive as they might appear. Forinstance, the wood frame and material are usually cut on the site to fitits particular requirement and after the exhibit is over, whichtypically lasts only a few days at the most, the booth is torn down andthe material which was used for the booth is no longer useful. Thus, thecosts cannot be amortized over more than one use. Next, such exhibithalls usually have contracts with labor unions which provide that unionmembers must be used to perform any construction in which pieces of woodare nailed together. Thus, the personnel staffing the booth cannotassemble and disassemble the booth, even if they have the necessaryskill, but instead additional labor expenses must be incurred in boththe erection and the removal of the booth.

Another disadvantage of such simple booths, perhaps less apparent thanthe economic disadvantages discussed above, is that such exhibits arefrequently used to promote advanced goods or services having ahigh-technological content to a sophisticated, professional clientele.Exhibitors at such shows obviously wish to avoid a jerry-built, oldfashioned county fair image for their booth and instead seek toestablish in the minds of their clientele an image of being as advancedas their product or services.

Another problem with booths of the type described above is that they areobviously not very portable. Today it is common for an exhibitor to wishto have a display at many different exhibits which may be held in arelatively short period of time but at many widely scattered locations.However, even if a booth as described above could be configured to beuseful at more than one location and even if it could be assembled anddisassembled a number of times without substantial damage to thestructure, the weight and bulk of the material would make it impracticalto ship it from location to location, considering the value of thematerial. Thus, the exhibitor is faced with the dilemma of either payinghigh freight costs to ship relatively low-value material from locationto location or taking the extra time and trouble to reacquire newmaterial at each location.

It is thus seen that there is a definite need today for an exhibit boothwhich can be easily assembled, which can be easily configured intodifferent structures to fit a particular require ment and which issufficiently light that it can be easily transported from place toplace.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is accordingly an object of the presentinvention to provide an improved means for constructing framestructures.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improvedconnector for use in constructing frame structures.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an improvedmodular frame structure and connector which can be easily assembled intoany desired configuration by persons having no particular training orskill in assembling such structures.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide animproved modular frame structure which can easily be disassembled,transported to another location and reassembled at minimum cost andeffort.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION Briefly stated, and inaccordance with the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, aconnector is provided whose body is a polyhedron. The body includes afirst pair of diametrically opposed openings the axis of which definesthe axis of the body. A first plurality of pairs of diametricallyopposed openings are positioned around the center of the body, with theaxes of these openings all lying in a common plane which is normal tothe axis of the body. This center plane thus divides the body into twosubstantially equal halves. A second plurality of pairs of diametricallyopposed openings is also provided, with each of these pairs having theirfirst openings positioned between the center plane mentioned above andone of the openings which defines the axis of the body. The secondopening of the second plurality of pairs is positioned diametricallyopposite the first openings and thus lies between the center plane andthe other of the openings which defines the axis of the body. Each ofthe above-mentioned openings projects inwardly from the surface of thebody towards its centers and each is a female receptacle adapted to matewith a corresponding complementary male plug. In the preferredembodiment, the openings are threaded with female threads to receive acorrespondingly threaded male plug. Each of the surfaces of thepolyhedron corresponds to a respective opening described above, witheach surface being normal to the axis of its respective opening. Amodular frame structure system is provided by using this connector incombination with plugs and frame members which are to be attached intothe frame structure system. The plug has a first end which is a malemember complementary to the openings in the connector and, as mentionedabove, in the preferred embodiment is threaded. The second end of theplug is adapted to connect to the frame member in any suitable manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The attached drawings show theinvention in detail and illustrate the advantages obtained by its use.In the different figures, the same reference numeral is used to indicatethe same part or component.

FIG. I shows a perspective view of a connector in accordance with thepresently preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows an end view of the connector of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the connector of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows a sectional view taken along the lines IV-IV of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a modular frame structure using theconnector of FIGS. 1 through 4, and

FIG. 6 shows an exploded perspective view of a detail of FIG. 5 andillustrates how the combination of the connector, the plug and the framemember is used to construct a modular frame structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a perspective view ofa connector in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention. As shown therein, connector 10 is a polyhedron body having aplurality of openings in its surface extending radially inwardly towardsthe center of the body. The surface of connector 10 is formed from aplurality of flat surfaces each corresponding to a respective opening inconnector 10. Each of these surfaces is normal to the axis of itsrespective opening and thus gives connector 10 its polyhedron shape. Asis shown in greater detail below, in the presently preferred embodimentof the invention, there are 22 of the openings and thus 22 surfaces.

Each of the openings in connector 10 is a female receptacle designed toreceive and hold a corresponding male plug. In the presently preferredembodiment of the invention, and is as is shown in all of the Figures,the openings are threaded with female threads to receive acorrespondingly threaded male plug member, shown in more detail in FIG.6 below.

Continuing now the description of FIG. 1, for each opening in connector10 there is a corresponding opening on the opposite side of connector10. Thus, each such opening and its respective opposed opening forms adiametrically opposed pair of openings whose axis passes through thecenter of connector 10.

A main axis 12' of connector 10 is defined by the axis of a firstopening 12a and its corresponding diametrically opposed opening 12b (notshown in FIG. 1). These openings are hereafter called the axialopenings. Spaced around the center of connector 10, around the center ofthe polyhedron, are a plurality of openings 14a, 16a, 18a, 20a, 22a and24a. Each of these openings has a corresponding paired diametricallyopposed opening l4b, 16b, 18b, 20b, 22b and 24b, respectively (again notshown in FIG. 1 for clarity). The axes of these opposed pairs ofopenings, hereafter called the central openings, are coplanar, with thiscentral plane passing through the center of connector 10 and beingnormal to the main axis 12' of connector 10. The angle between adjacentaxes of the central openings is above 30.

In the preferred embodiment, the connector 10 is completed by fouradditional opposed pairs of openings. Two of these openings, 26a, and28a are shown in FIG. 1. The axis of each of these pairs of openingsalso passes through the center of connector 10 and forms a 45 angle withboth the axis 12 and the central plane of connector 10. The centers ofopenings 26a, 28a, 30a and 320 (these last two openings not shown inFIG. 1) thus form a plane parallel to the central plane and lyingbetween that plane and axial opening 12a. The centers of thediametrically opposed openings 26b, 28b, 30b and 3212 (none of which areshown in FIG. 1) form a second plane parallel to the central plane andlying between that plane and axial opening 12b. These openings 26a and26b, 28a and 28b, 30a and 30b, and 32a and 32b are hereafter called theintermediate openings.

FIG. 2 shows an end view of the connector 10 looking down the axis 12'and shows the axial opening 12a and the intermediate openings 262, 28a,30a and 320. For clarity, no hidden lines are shown in FIG. 2 so none ofthe other openings appear in that view.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the connector 10 and shows the main axis 12and its corresponding diametrically opposed axial openings 12a and 12b.This view also shows the central openings 14b, 18a, 20a, 22a and 24aaround the center of connector l and the intermediate openings 26a, 28aand 30a on one side of connector and the intermediate openings 26b, 30band 32b on the other side of connector 10. For clarity, the otheropenings are not shown as hidden lines in this view.

FIG. 4 shows a sectional view taken along the line IVIV of FIG. 3. Thisview shows the axial opening 12a and the opposed pairs of centralopenings 14a and 14b, 16a and 16b, 18a and 18b, a and 20b, 22a and 22b,and 24a and 24b. Also, as shown therein, the axes of these openings passthrough the center of connector 10, with the angular spacing betweenadjacent axes always being 30, since there are l 2 equally spacedopenings.

FIGS. 1 through 4 illustrate the details of connector 10, As showntherein the connector includes an axial pair of diametrically opposedopenings, six pairs of central openings whose axes are coplanar anduniformally radially spaced every 30 in this plane. This central planeis normal to the main axis of connector l0 and divides connector 10 intotwo substantially equal halves. The connector is completed by four pairsof intermediate openings whose axes also pass through the center ofconnector I0 and which form a 45 angle with both the central plane andthe main axis of connector 10. The connector thus includes eleven pairsof diametrically opposed openings.

In each instance, the spacing between the two openings which form thepair is uniform. A spacing of three inches has been found to be quitesatisfactory. The advantages of this uniform spacing will be moreapparent when the description of FIGS. 5 and 6 below is considered.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a portion of a modular framestructure which is constructed in accordance with the present invention.As shown therein, a plurality of connectors 10 such as were described inFIGS. I through 4 above are used to interconnect a plurality oforthogonal frame members 40 and diagonal frame members 42. Of course,the shown structure is purely representational of the invention and theconnectors, orthogonal members and diagonal members can easily beconstructed into any desired configuration. Also, the diagonal members42 shown in FIG. 5 are connected into the intermediate openings of theconnector 10 to provide either 45 diagonals or 30-60 diagonals.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective exploded view of the detail 44 of FIG. 5 andillustrates how the frame members 40 are connected to the connector 10.As shown therein, a plug 46 is provided which includes a first end 48which is a complementary male member for the openings in connector 10.Since in the preferred embodiment, the openings are threaded, the ends48 in FIG. 6 are shown having corresponding male threads. The plug 46 isthen simply screwed into the openings in connector 10. The second end 50of plug 46 is designed to attach to the frame member 40. Any suitablemeans for attaching plug 46 to the frame members 40 may be used. In thepreferred embodiment, and as is shown in FIG. 6, the frame members 40are hollow pipes and the end 50 of plug 46 is cylindrical in shape,having a diameter slightly less than the inside diameter of the framemember 40. A spring-loaded snap ball 52 is provided in the end 50 and acorresponding groove 54 is provided on the inner surface of frame member40. To assemble, the spring-loaded ball 52 is simply depressed with thethumb and the plug is slid into the inside of frame member 40 until theball 52 snaps out into the groove 54 under the urging of an internalspring (not shown in FIG. 6). Such springloaded snap balls are wellknown to those skilled in the art. If desired, other connecting meansbetween plug 46 and frame member 40 could be used. For example, theycould be provided with complementary threads, or in many applications, asimple friction fit would be acceptable.

FIG. 6 also shows a second type of plug 54 which may be used with theinvention. Plug 54 is identical to plug 46 except that a shoulder 56 isprovided near its center. When this type of plug is used, the grooveinside the frame member 58 (not shown) is spaced at a sufficientdistance from the end such that when the spring-loaded ball 60 engagesthe groove, the end of frame member 58 rests on shoulder 56. It has beenfound useful to use this type of plug on vertical frame members whichmay be under a substantial amount of compressive force, so that theseforces do not cause the frame member to slip downwardly past thespring-loaded snap ball and into the connector 10.

FIG. 6 also shows details of a base member 62 which may be providedunder the bottom row of connectors 10. As shown therein, the base 62 isa cylinder of suitable dimensions having a threaded member at its top toengage the bottom opening of connector 10.

From the above description of the invention, it will be appreciated thatan infinite variety of modular frame structures can be constructed usingonly one form of connector, one or two forms of plugs and a few standardlengths of frame members. The connectors, plugs and frame members can bemade from any desired material. For example, it has been foundsatisfactory to make the components from aluminum, magnesium, or asuitable plastic such as polypropylene. These materials are particularlysuited for use with the invention because of their strengthcharacteristics and light weight. They can be easily used to assemble aframe structure of any desired configuration which can then easily bedisassembled. The components can then be readily transported to anotherlocation where any other desired frame structure can be assembled.

While the invention is thus disclosed and a particular preferredembodiment described, it is not intended that the invention be limitedto this shown embodiment. lnstead, many modifications will occur tothose having skill in the art which lie within the spirit and scope ofthe invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention be limitedonly by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A modular frame structure system comprising, in combination: aconnector, a plurality of hollow frame members and a plurality of plugs;

i. said connector comprising a eluding:

a. a first axial pair of diametrically opposed openings, the

axis of which defines an axis for said body;

b. a first plurality of pairs of diametrically opposed openings, theaxes of which all lie in a first plane, said first plane being normal tosaid axis of said body and dividing said body into two substantiallyequal halves; and

c. a second plurality of pairs of diametrically opposed openings, eachof said pairs comprising a first opening and a second opening, thecenters of said first openings defining a plane substantially parallelto said first plane and lying between said first plane and a first oneof said axial pair of openings, the centers of said second openingsdefining a plane substantially parallel to said first plane and lyingbetween said first plane and the other one of said axial pair ofopenings;

d. each of said openings projecting inwardly from the surthreedimensional body inface of said body towards the center of said body;

e. each of said openings being threaded with female threads adapted tomate with male threads on a corresponding complementary male plug;

2. said hollow frame member including a groove around its inner surface;and

3. said plug having a first end and a second end, said first end havingmale threads complementary to said female threads in said openings insaid connector and being adapted to mate with said openings, and saidsecond end being adapted to fit within said hollow frame members andincluding a spring-loaded snap ball which seats in said groove forattaching said plug to said frame member.

2. The combination of claim 1 in which the angle between the adjacentaxes of said first plurality of pairs of openings in said connector issubstantially 30.

3. The combination of claim 2 in which the distance between the firstopening and the second opening of each pair of openings in saidconnector is substantially equal to that of every other pair of openingsin said connector.

4. The combination of claim 3 in which the body of said connector is apolyhedron having a respective surface corresponding to each opening insaid body, each of said surfaces being normal to the axis of itsrespective opening.

5. The combination of claim 4 in which the axes of said second pluralityof pairs of openings each forms substantially a 45 angle with said firstplane and the axis of said body.

6. The combination of said claim 5 in which said second end of said plugincludes a shoulder for supporting the end of said frame member.

1. A modular frame structure system comprising, in combination: aconnector, a plurality of hollow frame members and a plurality ofplugs;
 1. said connector comprising a three dimensional body including:a. a first axial pair of diametrically opposed openings, the axis ofwhich defines an axis for said body; b. a first plurality of pairs ofdiametrically opposed openings, the axes of which all lie in a firstplane, said first plane being normal to said axis of said body anddividing said body into two substantially equal halves; and c. a secondplurality of pairs of diametrically opposed openings, each of said pairscomprising a first opening and a second opening, the centers of saidfirst openings defining a plane substantially parallel to said firstplane and lying between said first plane and a first one of said axialpair of openings, the centers of said second openings defining a planesubstantially parallel to said first plane and lying between said firstplane and the other one of said axial pair of openings; d. each of saidopenings projecting inwardly from the surface of said body towards thecenter of said body; e. each of said openings being threaded with femalethreads adapted to mate with male threads on a correspondingcomplementary male plug;
 2. said hollow frame member including a groovearound its inner surface; and
 3. said plug having a first end and asecond end, said first end having male threads complementary to saidfemale threads in said openings in said connector and being adapted tomate with said openings, and said second end being adapted to fit withinsaid hollow frame members and including a spring-loaded snap ball whichseats in said groove for attaching said plug to said frame member. 2.said hollow frame member including a groove around its inner surface;and
 2. The combination of claim 1 in which the angle between theadjacent axes of said first plurality of pairs of openings in saidconnector is substantially 30*.
 3. The combination of claim 2 in whichthe distance between the first opening and the second opening of eachpair of openings in said connector is substantially equal to that ofevery other pair of openings in said connector.
 3. said plug having afirst end and a second end, said first end having male threadscomplementary to said female threads in said openings in said connectorand being adapted to mate with said openings, and said second end beingadapted to fit within said hollow frame members and including aspring-loaded snap ball which seats in said groove for attaching saidplug to said frame member.
 4. The combination of claim 3 in which thebody of said connector is a polyhedron having a respective surfacecorresponding to each opening in said body, each of said surfaces beingnormal to the axis of its respective opening.
 5. The combination ofclaim 4 in which the axes of said second plurality of pairs of openingseach forms substantially a 45* angle with said first plane and the axisof said body.
 6. The combination of claim 5 in which said second end ofsaid plug includes a shoulder for supporting the end of said framemember.